The two suspected individuals who carried out the lethal attack at a Hanukkah gathering on Bondi Beach, that took 15 lives, appear to have been lone actors, as stated by national law enforcement.
Police additionally revealed that the 50-year-old Sajid Akram, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, 24, flew to the Philippines on 1 November. Their itinerary included arriving in the capital Manila before connecting on the day of arrival to Davao City. The pair flew back to Sydney on 29 November.
No Evidence of Preparation During Stay
Authorities indicate the individuals did not undergo any type of terrorist coaching or "organizing" during their stay in the Philippines. Preliminary inquiries from Philippine officials suggest they "rarely left" their hotel.
The shooting—labeled as Australia's deadliest mass shooting since 1996—has been formally declared a act of terrorism.
"We are currently reviewing the footage," she stated, noting that early assessments suggest that "these individuals are alleged to have been lone actors."
National law enforcement Chief Krissy Barrett briefed the press on Tuesday that CCTV footage showing the accused attackers' activities in the Philippines had been handed over to domestic authorities.
"There is no evidence to suggest these suspects were members of a larger network, or were acting on orders from overseas entities to carry out an incident," she stated.
Yet, the duo were likewise not necessarily in the Philippines on a leisure trip, she noted. She underscored that, since the probe is continuing, new evidence might surface.
Motivation and Court Charges
In prior statements, the nation's leader Anthony Albanese said it appears both alleged attackers were "motivated by Islamic State" beliefs.
During the shooting, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police. He and his son Naveed—reportedly carrying long-barrelled guns—allegedly opened fire on attendees at the Jewish festival event.
Naveed Akram, who was hospitalised after the attack, has been charged with 59 offences. These comprise 15 counts of murder and one count of perpetrating a terrorist act. He is expected to appear in court in April.
Travel Details
In the aftermath following the shooting, immigration authorities in the Philippines reported that the older suspect had arrived in the country using an foreign passport, while his younger suspect used an domestic passport.
The pair had listed the metropolis of Davao as their intended endpoint. Their scheduled return flight to Australia was for Sydney.
Davao is a expansive city on the east of Mindanao, the Philippines' largest island in the south. Historically, Islamist fighters have reportedly be active in impoverished parts of central and south-western Mindanao.
